Oakland County’s First-Ever Tattoo Expo Is Coming This August

Whether you've got a full sleeve, a few small tattoos, you're thinking about getting your first one, or you just love people-watching, you might want to mark your calendar for August.

A brand-new tattoo convention is coming to Waterford, and it's going to be a pretty big weekend for Michigan's tattoo community.

Nomad Legacy Tattoo Expo Is Coming to Waterford

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The Nomad Legacy Tattoo Expo is headed to the Oakland Expo Center in Waterford this August. Organizers say it's the first tattoo convention to call Oakland County home, bringing together tattoo artists from across Michigan and all over the country for three days of live tattooing, competitions, vendors, and more.

When Is the Nomad Legacy Tattoo Expo?

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The Nomad Legacy Tattoo Expo runs Friday, August 21, through Sunday, August 23, 2026, at the Oakland Expo Center in Waterford.

Hours:

• Friday: 2:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
• Saturday: 2:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
• Sunday: 2:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Which Tattoo Artists Will Be at the Nomad Legacy Tattoo Expo?

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• Kyle Dunbar – Drunken Monkey Tattoo (Ink Master)
• Mackenzie Boyd – Drunken Monkey Tattoo
• Justin McDougald – Dixie Tattoo Company
• Bryn Beer – Crafted Fate Art Collective
• Barbie LaVon – Black Lantern Tattoo Collective
• Christopher Thomas – Ritual Ink Studio
• Quindeel Mitchell – Orchard Tattoo Company
• Adam Beardsley – Evermore Tattoo Gallery
• Anthony Allen – Dark Horse Tattoo Co.
• Jon Stuvel – Stay Gold Art Collective
• Chris Stucker – Blue Heron Tattoo

That's just a sample of the artists expected to attend. The full lineup includes more than 40 tattoo artists and piercers from Michigan and across the country, with more names expected to be added before the expo.

When Are the Tattoo Contests at the Nomad Legacy Tattoo Expo?

Tattoo contests are one of the biggest attractions at the Nomad Legacy Tattoo Expo, giving artists a chance to compete in a variety of categories while attendees get to see some incredible work up close. Judging begins each day at 5 p.m., with different categories featured throughout the weekend.

How Do You Get Tickets to the Nomad Legacy Tattoo Expo?

If you'd like to check out the Nomad Legacy Tattoo Expo, you can buy tickets online before the event or at the door. Single-day admission is $25, while a weekend pass is $65 if purchased in advance.

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For tickets, the full schedule, and a complete list of attending artists, visit the official Nomad Legacy Tattoo Expo website.